Achieving seamless fusion

Architect Philip Olmesdahl, principal at Cape Town-based studio SAOTA, had been living near this site in the city bowl for more than 15 years, admiring it, before he managed to secure it for himself. “When architects design their own homes,” he says, “they can have a bit more fun; they can be a little bit less intellectual”. Being his own client offered Philip the opportunity to push boundaries – combining wisdom earned designing houses with SAOTA over the years with something a bit more whimsical and experimental.

Philip could take the opportunity to explore architectural ideas without necessarily feeling the need to present a definitive statement or conclusive theory and weave in personal associations and preferences. The corner site he secured was steep and had an “unmemorable” 60s ranchstyle house in the centre of a large garden, as was typical of the garden suburbs of the era. Philip points out, however, that the City of Cape Town’s densification strategy in this area presented new possibilities. In response, he subdivided the property along a contour and redeveloped it to create a five-bedroom family home on the upper section and two four-bedroom rental apartments on the lower.

He sought to recreate something of the spirit of a single standalone house in a garden suburb for a changed urban context. Conceptually, the relationship between the main house and the accommodation below, separated by a shared wall, references the row houses that historically characterise the area. The podium includes garages with a gym, guest and staff accommodation, and utility rooms. The upper two levels are dedicated to the living space, which, from that height, can take maximum advantage of the spectacular views of the city. The third level accommodates the living area and a covered outdoor terrace. Four ensuite bedrooms plus a small lounge and study occupy the uppermost level, including a generous office for Philip and a yoga studio for his wife. However, the building’s primary identity is imparted by the distinctive red pigmented off-shutter concrete of the upper levels, especially the angled precast concrete screens mounted on steel frames, which provide shading and privacy for the extensive façade glazing.

Internally, the character of the house is best exemplified by the main living space, which has been conceptualised as a single, large, open-plan area that takes in the living room, kitchen and dining rooms. These constitute a series of overlapping, interconnected spaces, which is a distinctive feature of a SAOTA designed homes, forming a flowing platform for living.

About SAOTA

SAOTA, a leading firm of architects, paired with both an innovative and dedicated approach to the design, documentation and execution of projects globally, has seen SAOTA become an internationally sought-after brand. They have a global footprint with projects on six continents and having a clear understanding of the place of design in the world and how to deliver architectural projects in diverse markets.